New Homes Use Less Water
New homes built to today’s standards use far less water than homes built 20 years ago and will use even less water when the California Green Building Standards Code comes into effect in 2011, according to a California Homebuilding Foundation study.
Water Use in the California Residential Home was prepared by Stockton-based ConSol, a nationally recognized consultant on energy solutions for production single-family and multifamily builders since 1981. The study examined historical standards on water flow for shower heads, toilets, faucets and clothes washers, as well as water used for landscaping, and compared them to standards used today and those that will come into effect in 2011.
The study found that homes built in 2009 reduced indoor water use by 20 percent, saving more than 15,000 gallons of water per year when compared to homes built in 1990, and that new homes built to the 2011 standards will further reduce indoor water use by 21 percent, saving more than 12,000 gallons per year.
The study also found that landscaping accounts for 57 percent of total household water use, and that the California Department of Water Resources’ Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance will help save an additional 26,000 gallons of water per year.
This entry was posted on Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 9:00 am and is filed under CEO Connection. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
